Food for Thought: Southeast Extension Agents Offer Their Top Advice to Growers
December 22, 2021 After a year and a half of limited travel, the role Extension agents and other consultants play is more important than ever. As they advise produce growers across their states or regions, they are witnessing trends that may be otherwise invisible.
American Vegetable Grower recently asked a couple dozen Extension agents from the Southeast region and other consultants what they think growers can do to be successful. Here’s a sampling of what they had to say:
Be efficient.
Never quit, never give up. We need our American farmers to supply good, safe food to our great country.
Keep voicing your trade imbalance concerns and other concerns to your county commissioners and state representatives. They simply must hear your opinion, straight from the farmer, not through intermediaries.
Improve your soils.
Do the best you can at recordkeeping and review the data to help with future impacts on your farm.
Hire people that have a solid background in agriculture an produce.
Grow unusual.
Pay attention to the science.
Talk to other growers if you have a problem. And don’t give up if something goes wrong — something will always go wrong.
Use a variety of methods to control weed pests. Don’t rest on one method. Be aggressive in your control methods. Include pre-emergent products where available.
Save money when you can.
Be smart and stay lean.
Understand how what you are doing every day affects us all.
Be the best steward of the land you can be. Because that is what takes care of you.
Oh, One More Thing
In addition to general advice, we also asked these 33 ag Extension and advisory experts for input on a wide variety of topics. Here are a couple more.
Top 5 Concerns for the Southeast Vegetable Industry
- Government regulations (most cited lax import rules creating unfair competition)
- Insect and Disease Issues
- Labor
- Production Costs
- Water Issues
Top 3 Southeast Production Trends
- Increased mechanization/ use of technology
- More consumer demand
- Farms growing more diversified crops
Does anything stand out to you from the list above?
Comment below if you have any advice to give growers.
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